US3326671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direct smelting of metallic ores
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1966-08-04
•
Granted: 1967-06-20
•
Expires: 1986-08-04
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard K Worner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:13
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B19/00; C22B19/04; C03; C03B; C03B5/00; C03B5/04; C03B5/12; C21; C21B; C21B13/00; C21B13/10; C22B13/00; C22B23/00; C22B23/02; C22B23/025; C22B25/00; C22B5/00; C22B9/00; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P10/00; Y02P10/10; Y02P10/134; Y10; Y10S; Y10S75/00; Y10S75/957
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF METALS FROM ORES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING IN A BATH OF MOLTEN MATERIAL A SMELTING ZONE, A REFINING ZONE AND A SLAG SEPARATION ZONE, THE SAID ZONES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE FROM BUT IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER; INTRODUCING ORE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY INTO THE MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE SMELTING ZONE AND SMELTING THE ORE OR CONCENTRATE IN SAID ZONE; INCLUDING TURBULENCE AND CIRCULATION OF THE MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE SMELTING ZONE; CAUSING MOLTEN MATERIAL TO FLOW IN A STREAM CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE SMELTING ZONE TO THE REFINING ZONE; INJECTING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS INTO THE STREAM OF MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE REFINING ZONE; CAUSING SLAG PRODUCED TO FLOW SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY TO THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; INDUCING FLOW OF SLAG COUNTER-CURRENT TO THE FLOW OF MOLTEN METAL IN AT LEAST A PART OF THE REFINING ZONE; MAINTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY QUIESCENT CONDITIONS IN THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; WITHDRAWING SLAG FROM THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; AND WITHDRAWING MOLTEN METAL FROM THE REFINING ZONE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF METALS FROM ORES COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING IN A BATH OF MOLTEN MATERIAL A SMELTING ZONE, A REFINING ZONE AND A SLAG SEPARATION ZONE, THE SAID ZONES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SEPARATE FROM BUT IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER; INTRODUCING ORE SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY INTO THE MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE SMELTING ZONE AND SMELTING THE ORE OR CONCENTRATE IN SAID ZONE; INCLUDING TURBULENCE AND CIRCULATION OF THE MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE SMELTING ZONE; CAUSING MOLTEN MATERIAL TO FLOW IN A STREAM CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE SMELTING ZONE TO THE REFINING ZONE; INJECTING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS INTO THE STREAM OF MOLTEN MATERIAL IN THE REFINING ZONE; CAUSING SLAG PRODUCED TO FLOW SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY TO THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; INDUCING FLOW OF SLAG COUNTER-CURRENT TO THE FLOW OF MOLTEN METAL IN AT LEAST A PART OF THE REFINING ZONE; MAINTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY QUIESCENT CONDITIONS IN THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; WITHDRAWING SLAG FROM THE SLAG SEPARATION ZONE; AND WITHDRAWING MOLTEN METAL FROM THE REFINING ZONE.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1970-06-19 | 1970-12-19 | 1971-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1974-06-19 | 1974-12-19 | 1975-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1978-06-19 | 1978-12-19 | 1979-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |